Welcome to the NHL Star Power Index: A weekly gauge of the gamers who’re controlling substantial buzz across the league. When a participant is included on this record it will not be a very good factor — it signifies that they’re capturing a considerable amount of the hockey world’s consideration.
These gamers are in no explicit order relating to the quantity of buzz that they are creating. We’ll revisit the Star Power Index each week all through the common season.
Matthew Tkachuk’s abilities had been on full show for the Florida Panthers crowd at 2023 NHL All-Star Game in South Florida. Tkachuk earned MVP honors, as he led the Atlantic Division to a 7-5 win over the Central Division within the 2023 NHL All-Star Game Final. He turned simply the tenth participant in NHL historical past to win an NHL All-Star Game MVP award whereas taking part in in his residence enviornment and was the primary since Ryan Johansen completed the feat in 2015 as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
In whole, Tkachuk recorded 4 targets and three assists over the 2 video games.
It was a weekend to recollect for Tkachuk amongst the meeting of the best gamers within the sport, and he made certain to hold that momentum into the Panthers’ first sport out of the All-Star break. Tkachuk had arguably his greatest sport of the 2022-23 season in a dominant 7-1 win over the Lightning on Monday. During that individual contest, he scored two targets and dished out three assists.
It marked simply the third five-point efficiency of Tkachuk’s seven-year NHL profession. After it initially trying just like the Tkachuk/Jonathan Huberdeau offseason commerce could have been a mistake, Tkachuk is taking part in a few of his greatest hockey since arriving in South Florida.
As the league returns from the All-Star break, the New Jersey Devils will probably be seeking to construct off a stellar first half to the 2022-23 season. Arguably the most important motive for that spectacular begin was the play of younger heart Jack Hughes. Well, Hughes began off the second half with a bang.
In a 5-4 additional time win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, Hughes netted two targets and recorded an help. With such a efficiency, Hughes joined some elite firm.
It marked the fifth consecutive sport through which Hughes has recorded a number of factors, matching a Devils franchise document. Only Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews (seven consecutive video games in 2018-19) and Edmonton Oilers ahead Leon Draisaitl (six consecutive video games in 2016-17) have had longer streaks of tallying a number of factors in consecutive video games.
In addition, he is additionally registered factors in 9 consecutive contests relationship again to Jan. 13. During that stretch, the Devils star has tallied a number of factors in seven of these video games. Hughes’ first couple {of professional} seasons had been spoiled by accidents. With well being lastly on his facet, the Devils star has established himself as one of many premier offensive gamers within the league.
Connor McDavid has been about as computerized of some extent producer as one might be. Entering Thursday, McDavid owns a 13-game level streak relationship again to Jan. 3 and stored the streak alive with an help in a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. In six of these contests, the Edmonton Oilers star has registered a number of factors.
Sandwiched in between his 13-game level streak, McDavid took his abilities to South Florida for the 2023 NHL All-Star Game. There, he tallied a aim for the Pacific Division in a 6-4 loss by the hands of the Central Division in one of many semifinal matchups.
McDavid’s abilities had been additionally on show through the NHL All-Star Skills Competition final Friday. While the two-time Hart Trophy winner did not win the Accuracy Shooting occasion, he certain did produce fairly the spectacle:
As the second half of the season begins, McDavid has an NHL-best 93 factors with the following closest being teammate Leon Draisaitl (76). The Oilers star additionally leads the league in targets (41), however that race is just a little bit nearer. Boston Bruins ahead David Pastrnak (38) and Hughes (35) are each nipping at his heels in that individual race.
It’s little question that McDavid is firmly within the driver’s seat for the Hart Trophy race to crown the NHL’s MVP. Considering that he is presently on tempo for 150 factors this season, it is simply his race to lose.
In Tuesday’s 4-0 win over the Seattle Kraken, the New York Islanders’ greatest storyline was the truth that Bo Horvat scored his first aim with the franchise. However, it was Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin that had the extra spectacular efficiency.
Sorokin turned apart all 32 photographs that he confronted in opposition to the Kraken, who’ve been one of many high groups within the Western Conference all season. In doing so, the 27-year-old netminder tied himself with Washington Capitals’ Darcy Kuemper as the one goalie with 5 shutouts on the season.
It additionally marked Sorokin’s fifteenth profession shutout and moved him previous Tommy Salo for sole possession of fourth place on the Islanders’ all-time shutouts record. Now Sorokin solely trails Glenn Resch (25), Billy Smith (22) and Rick DiPietro (16).
Tuesday’s displaying highlights a latest stellar stretch for the Islanders goaltender. Prior to attending to his first profession All-Star Game final weekend, Sorokin additionally registered a shutout in a 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Sorokin stopped all 23 photographs that he confronted in that individual contest and has now tallied 55 saves over his final two video games with out permitting a aim. It was the third time in Sorokin’s NHL profession that he has recorded shutouts in back-to-back begins.
Sorokin ranks second in save proportion (.926) behind solely Linus Ullmark (.937) of the Boston Bruins and presently is tied for third in goals-against-average (2.31). According to MoneyPuck, Sorokin additionally owns a .962 save proportion when dealing with unblocked photographs this season.
With the acquisition of Horvat and signing him to a contract extension, the Islanders clearly have Stanley Cup aspirations. If Sorokin can proceed to be an elite pressure in between the pipes, this can be a staff that positively can clinch a Wild Card spot within the East when the postseason rolls round.
